Railway hopper car door frame assembly

Abstract

A door frame assembly process for conventional railway hopper car discharge openings. Five individual frame components are formed of plate or rolled angle members, and are assemblable in a jig. One dimension of the assembly is defined by the predetermined length of two of the main components, while the other dimension is adjustable in the jig. The door closure surface forming member is a separate component, and may be adjustably positioned with respect to the other four components before being affixed thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of constructng a railway hopper car door frame assembly having a vertical and a horizontal dimension comprising the steps of (a) forming opposed top and bottom components, two opposed side components and a door closure surface forming member, of plate steel, individual components of one pair of opposed components each being of a predetermined length,   (b) placing said top, bottom, and side components in position to be assembled, one of said dimensions of said assembly to be formed being defined by said predetermined lengths of said one pair of opposed components,   (c) adjusting said other dimension of said assembly to be formed by moving adjoining components relative to each other in said other dimension,   (d) welding said components together along two surfaces of engagement therebetween each,   (e) bringing said door closure surface forming member into engagement with receiving surfaces on said top, bottom, and side components,   (f) adjusting said door closure surface forming member with respect to said top, bottom, and side components, and   (g) welding said door closure surface forming member to the respective receiving surfaces of sait top, bottom and side components.   
     
     
       2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiving surfaces of said top and side components of said assembly receive edge portions of said door closure surface forming member, and wherein said bottom component receives a surface portion of said member, and wherein said step of welding of said member to said top and side components is accomplished by butt welding and wherein said step of welding said member to said bottom component is accomplished by lap welding. 
     
     
       3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiving surface of said bottom component comprises a means for locating said member with respect to said components in one of said dimensions, and wherein said step of adjusting said member with respect to said components is accomplished by adjusting said member only in said other dimension. 
     
     
       4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of forming opposed top and bottom components, two opposed side components, and a door closure surface forming member of plate steel is accomplished by cold-forming said components and member of plate steel.